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1816IIHF News from www.iihf.comTYPO3 - get.content.righthttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssSun, 18 Mar 2018 11:59:00 +0100Farmer harvests gold!http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12461
U.S. Paralympians three-peat versus Canada in OTThe 20-year-old Tampa Bay native, who is a bilateral amputee, cruised into the slot and beat heroic Canadian netminder Dominic Larocque high to the stick side at 3:30 of overtime. That zinger gave the U.S. its third straight gold medal in Para ice hockey and fourth all-time (2002). Farmer becomes the all-time leading goal-scorer (14) at the Paralympics.

“It was crazy,” said Farmer. “There are a lot of emotions now. It was so close. [Canada] had so many chances this game, but [goalie] Steve [Cash] held us in there. The other guys did a great job of crashing the net and I was able to find a loose puck. It was awesome.”

The sport, traditionally known as “sledge hockey” in Canada, “sled hockey” in the United States and “sledge ice hockey” at the Paralympic Winter Games, was officially renamed “Para ice hockey” in 2016. Sunday marked the first Canada-U.S. gold medal game in Paralympic history, and this battle on Korean ice deserved the title of a classic.

In front of 6,096 fans, the U.S. outshot Canada 16-12 in a physical, fast-paced affair. It was an exciting conclusion to hockey at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Last month, the 2018 Olympic hockey venue also saw the Olympic Athletes from Russia edging Germany 4-3 in overtime in the men’s final and the U.S. topping Canada 3-2 in a shootout in the women’s final.

As in women’s hockey, the fiercest rivalry in this sport is currently between the North American neighbours although they for the first time met in a Paralympic final. At this eight-team Paralympic tournament, Canada outscored its opponents 42-0 through the opening round and the semi-finals. The Americans had a 38-1 goal difference over that span.

Canada, which led 1-0 with just 38 seconds to go, fell heartbreakingly short in its bid for its first Para ice hockey gold since 2006.

“I am proud of the team,” said veteran Canadian captain Greg Westlake. “It is hard to find what to take away from this at the moment. It stings right now. I believe there are gold medallists in our room, but they just do not know it just yet. I believe we will do it in the future.”

Also on Sunday, host Korea celebrated its first Para ice hockey medal with a 1-0 bronze medal win over Italy. Dong Shin Jang scored his team-leading third goal with 3:18 left. This was the first medal-game appearance for both nations.

Para ice hockey, which debuted at the Paralympics in Lillehammer 1994, is based on the IIHF Rule Book. It sees players with lower-body disabilities competing on metal sleds with blades and using two sticks to propel themselves and handle the puck. Periods are 15 minutes long. The power and speed of the players is an amazing spectacle.

In a high-tempo first period, Billy Bridges drew first blood at 12:06. The Canadian national team’s all-time leading scorer overpowered U.S. goalie Steve Cash with a shot from the slot. Cash got a piece of it but couldn’t prevent it from trickling in. It was Bridges’ sixth of these Olympics.

Early in the second, the Canadians thought they might have taken a two-goal lead when Dominic Cozzolino, cutting toward the net, attempted a shot and two American defenders slid into their goalie, obscuring the puck. However, the officials reviewed the play and there was no goal.

In the third period, the Americans got an early power play with Bridges high-sticking Nikko Landeros, and they called their timeout to strategize. Farmer got the best chance alone in front of the Canadian net, but the puck trickled off his stick. Then Cash came up big with a blocker save on Greg Westlake from the slot with under six minutes remaining in regulation.

As the clock ticked down, the physicality increased. With their goalie pulled for the extra attacker, the Americans tied it up in a stunning late sequence. Rob Armstrong, Canada’s top-scoring defenceman, got loose on the right side and had an empty net, but he fired it off the post. The U.S. came right back down and their two deadliest forwards went to work. Brody Roybal put the puck off Bridges’ sled and Farmer picked it up, coolly delaying before roofing it at 14:22.

The Americans were saved. Canada had defeated the U.S. in the finals of the last two World Para Ice Hockey Championships hosted by Korea (2013, 2017), but that string of good fortune ran out here.

These two teams are always in the mix. In Turin 2006, the Canadians beat Norway 3-0 in the final, while the Americans took bronze. In 2010 in Vancouver, the Americans blanked Japan 2-0 for gold, while host Canada lost to Norway for bronze. And in Sochi in 2014, the U.S. edged host Russia 1-0, while Canada took third place by beating Norway.

The 2018 Stars and Stripes victory also stands as a tribute to former U.S. Para ice hockey coach Jeff Sauer, who passed away in 2017 at age 73. The decorated University of Wisconsin legend, who also served on the IIHF Disciplinary Committee, guided the Americans to that Sochi gold. Farmer said Sauer “is watching over us, and we love him, and we appreciate everything he had done for us.”

There were many interesting side stories at these Paralympics. Italy’s fourth-place finish was its best ever. Norway iced a female player with spina bifida in 24-year-old Lena Schroder, technically making it a mixed tournament. Kwang Hyouk Choi originally hailed from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea), where his foot was amputated in 2000 after he fell off a moving train. At the PyeongChang2018 Paralympics he was happy to win bronze with his new country, the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The North Koreans had an official delegation of athletes at the Paralympics too, another first. It’s all a tribute to these resilient athletes, who refuse to be defined by their disabilities.

Para ice hockey is run by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) with coordination from the World Para Ice Hockey Technical Committee. On 7 December 2014, the IIHF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the IPC at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco, setting up a ground-breaking partnership to promote and coordinate the sport.

At the time, IIHF President René Fasel stated: “We are happy to be able to help raise the profile of sledge hockey going into the next Paralympic cycle. The dedication and effort that these athletes demonstrated in a hard-fought tournament in Sochi showed that this is a sport worthy of the Paralympic Games.” And happily, after another great tournament in Korea, the tradition will continue in Beijing in 2022.

The U.S. player celebrated their Para ice hockey gold in PyeongChang2018. Photo: Joel Marklund / OIS/IOC]]>on topOlympics20 United States03 Canada09 ItalyKorea13 NorwaySun, 18 Mar 2018 11:59:00 +0100Crossing the continenthttp://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12460
European opposition sharpens Hvidovre's game1,756 kilometres separates Hungary's capital Budapest from Linkoping in Sweden. They mark the geographical opposite ends for Hvidovre's opponents during a season where kilometres on the road and miles in the air are clocked up with the future prosperity of Danish hockey in focus.

Having first re-joined Sweden's second tier, DamEttan, the club from the greater Copenhagen area then decided to considerably widen their scope. A two-year deal was struck with the Elite Women's Hockey League (EWHL) ahead of this season, adding quality opposition and Central European destinations to their travel itinerary.

“This season is very different to previous ones as we spend a lot more time on hockey. There is more training, games and travelling than we have been used to in the past and it demands a completely different attitude,” said Malene Frandsen, who is patrolling the blueline for both Hvidovre and the Danish national team.

Battling it out with teams from Sweden one weekend and then swiftly moving on to matches against opponents from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan and Slovakia has become the staple diet for the Danes this season as their credentials are constantly put to the test.

“These matches are on a completely different level to what we are used to in the Danish league,” said Frandsen, part of a Hvidovre team that has lifted the domestic championship six times in seven seasons. “Our opponents in Europe are stronger so the matches are far harder, tougher and tighter which requires us to be 100 per cent prepared ahead of each game,” she said of her team that underwent strenuous off-ice training in order to meet the physical demands of a challenging season.

For 22-year-old Frandsen, who picked up the game 18 years ago, travelling abroad to up their game has become a necessity after the Danish hockey landscape shifted in recent times on Zealand, Denmark's most populated island where also its capital is located.

“I've been at Hvidovre since the age of eleven and I've started playing for the boys U12 team and our women's second team. Back then we had both a women's first and second team in Hvidovre and there were also more teams in both the eastern and western parts of Denmark. These days there are only two women's teams on Zealand,” said Frandsen, who made her national team debut at the age of 15 and was part of the Hvidovre team that broke new ground to first compete in the Swedish second tier for one season in 2015/16.

When the opportunity arose to join the EWHL and a contingent of clubs from nations eager to rise in the world of women's hockey, Denmark's finest was keen not to miss out. Their venture was made possible thanks to a combination of sponsors and relentless enthusiasm from a close-knit roster.

“Despite the challenges we seem to face on our trips, we are enjoying every second of being taken seriously and trying to become better hockey players,” said Frandsen, also a full-time student at the University of Copenhagen who hopes that Denmark playing host to the men's IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in May can help shine a light also on the women's game.

“Ranging from ice times for practices and matches, sponsors and to our national teams, we need to make it possible for women’s hockey players to be able to combine training, work or education to increase the number of teams,” said Frandsen of the challenges facing the overall prosperity of the Danish game.

Her sentiments are shared by Hvidovre's head coach Jonathan Salman. Now in the second season in charge, he hopes the club's forays across the continent would lead to Danish clubs following in their footsteps. “We have started this venture with the hope of more clubs joining in to try and raise the level in Danish hockey. There is a long list of things that can be improved, but first and foremost we need to create a culture of training that needs to be applied and then further developed,” he said

Having finished the season in second place in the southern section of Sweden's DamEttan while narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs in the EWHL, Hvidovre is now getting ready to defend their Danish title against close rivals Herlev. The first game will be played today in Herlev, the second game is on Tuesday and if a third game is needed, it will follow on Thursday.

With Denmark's women also competing at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group A in Vaujany, France, between 8-14 April, they appear to be well equipped to improve on last year's fourth spot.

“On a personal level the matches we have played so far this season has put me on the level I should be at, so when we are going to the World Championship with the national team, I will already have the speed in my skating and game,” said Frandsen.

HENRIK MANNINEN]]>on topClubWorldsWomen05 Denmarkon leftSat, 17 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0100Hilary Knight: The Big Q&Ahttp://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/women/news/hilary-knight-interview/
U.S. Olympic superstar speaks out in MontrealWhen the face of American women’s hockey announced her surprise signing with the Montreal Canadiennes on 8 March, it wasn’t just a coup for the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). It increased an unprecedented torrent of publicity for Knight and her teammates since beating archrival Canada 3-2 in a thrilling shootout finale at the Olympics in Korea last month.

Not only have the U.S. players been honoured at NHL games in Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Washington, New York, and New Jersey, but they have also appeared on major U.S. TV shows like Saturday Night Live, Ellen, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. They’re riding high on their legendary achievement for USA Hockey, which ended a 20-year Olympic women’s hockey drought and earned its first Winter Games gold of the 21st century.

With her telegenic personality, Knight is built for the spotlight. The 28-year-old power forward, who loves to promote strong female role models, has already done everything from posing for ESPN The Magazine’s 2014 Body Issue to completing the accuracy shooting event in a stellar 11.64 seconds at January’s NHL All-Star Game skills competition.

Now Knight is gunning for her third Clarkson Cup after triumphing in 2013 and 2015 with the Boston Blades. The University of Wisconsin product won the 2016 Isobel Cup with the Boston Pride of the rival National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). Knight, who also owns seven gold medals and two MVP titles from the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, suited up in Montreal’s season-closing 3-2 win over the Calgary Inferno to clinch first place overall.

Returning to Canada, where she made her Women’s Worlds debut in Winnipeg in 2007, she’s enjoying the chance to play with long-time foes like Caroline Ouellette and Melodie Daoust. We got in-depth with Knight before Montreal kicked off its title defence in the CWHL semi-finals against the Markham Thunder.

How’s your French coming along?

My French is getting better every single day. I know some people are scared to speak other languages when they’re in a new atmosphere or culture, but I’m not scared enough. I’ll say something totally ridiculous. I hope people just bear with me! The other day, I ordered coffee, and instead of saying a “small coffee,” I asked for a “wet coffee.” That was a good laugh.

What made Montreal and the CWHL the right fit for you?

With Montreal, it’s just because the team was gracious enough to offer me an opportunity to join their club at the end of the season. I love the way they manage their team and the expectations from a player standpoint. They really hold each other accountable to achieve what they’re capable of, which is huge.

Considering the CWHL’s vision of hockey, how they’ve been around for a number of years, and where I want to see the sport grow professionally, it just seemed like a great opportunity to drive fans from the Olympics over to a pro league and attract more eyeballs.

Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who played for the Canadiennes the last two years, decided to take the rest of the season off. Did you reach out to her to reconsider and come play with you?

No, I didn’t reach out to her directly. I can’t speak for her, but I think some players sort of had their minds made up before this year’s big tournament. Each player has a different path. If it works for them to play, then it’s awesome. If it doesn’t, then it’s not the right fit right now.

Are you hoping to team up with Poulin next year?

If I’m still here. That would be quite a combination and a really enjoyable experience for me to be on the same ice and wearing the same colours as her. She’s obviously an outstanding player. When you get great players together, it’s always a fun way to play hockey.

At the Olympics, you scored both your goals on power play tips in front of the net. Against Calgary, were you surprised to find yourself playing the point?

Yeah, I haven’t played that position in I don’t know how many years now. However, I wasn’t too unfamiliar with it just because of my college experience, when I was back there. I just wish I would have hit the net a few more times than I did! But I’m happy to fill in wherever.

To be honest, I think the most challenging part of the first game was playing centre, because I haven’t played centre in well over a decade. That’s a lot of responsibility to hand somebody! [laughs] I think I did well on the draws, but you can always clean up details.

When you look back at that gold medal game, every single goal – American or Canadian – was a beauty. Was it the perfect advertisement for women’s hockey?

Yeah. It was a great hockey game. It was a game for the ages. And obviously, it was great to be on the winning side of a shootout, but you never want a shootout to be the sole factor in who wins and who doesn’t win. But man, did all the shooters come prepared and the goalies come prepared! It was such a fantastic thing to watch and be a part of, and have a front-row seat too.

How has winning the gold medal changed your life?

I’m still the same person I was before, but it’s definitely helped to elevate our platform. I think that’s the goal. You try to do your best on the ice and you want to be respected for that, but also, a lot of the opportunities that we should be getting, just through our play, we don’t necessarily get. Now we’re getting them. People want to hear from you and hear from our team. It’s huge.

How about endorsements?

I hope it opens up a lot of endorsement opportunities, just because we know what we’re capable of and the type of people we are. I think any company would be lucky to work with any one of us. Knowing that and not necessarily having the platform that you need to have for one of these bigger companies to sign up with you was sort of the vicious cycle that we were in. I’m hoping that a lot more sponsorships and companies are going to gear up and support more of our players.

What was the most mind-blowing moment of the victory tour for you?

I feel like I still haven’t really processed what we accomplished. Quite obviously, it was a big deal. I remember the day after we won, we walked into one of the Olympic broadcasting centres and there was a giant lunch room. Everyone stood up and started clapping. We were like, “Why are they clapping? Oh yeah, we just won an awesome game!” [laughs] It’s been pretty cool to listen to other people’s experiences and how the game has impacted their lives.

You had a huge smile on your face on Saturday Night Live. What was that like?

Oh my gosh! Honestly, it’s like playing in the gold medal game. It’s everything you dream of. You still get the pre-game jitters and everything. It was such a phenomenal opportunity to be with Leslie “Penalty Box” Jones and company. She’s fantastic at what she does, and to see the behind-the-scenes of how SNL works, it’s such a cool operation to be a part of. Then you get to meet the people and the culture of their team, and you kind of feel like you’re at home.

You grow up watching SNL. I’m a huge fan. It’s so funny. Now you’re standing next to these people that you see on TV who are so talented. You go: “How did I get here?” It’s such a surreal experience.

Has anybody come up to you since then and asked you to sing that snippet of Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” that you did on the show?

No, they haven’t. But I did have someone come up to me when we were in New York and say, “Hey, you were on SNL! Can I have an autograph?” instead of “Oh my gosh, you guys just won a gold medal!” So that was interesting! [laughs] But I’ll take it.

It’s been a year since your national team negotiated with USA Hockey for equitable support. Do you feel like you got what you wanted?

I feel like we got a starting point, and I think there’s a ton of room to grow on both sides of the table. It’s our job now to hold one another accountable to try to push women’s hockey to the furthest limit.

What did it mean to get that letter from 14 U.S. senators supporting your team?

I think it just offered more weight behind our voices. It also reassured a lot of us to the core that we knew it was the right thing to do for so many different reasons. Now you have other people in other industries weighing in and lending their support as well. It’s not easy. It’s terrifying sometimes, but it’s also exciting. When another renowned person weighs in, it’s like: “Oh my gosh! We’re really doing this. This is real.”

During the negotiations, you took the lead on social media. How did you end up in that role?

I think I’m just an outspoken person. I try to use my platform and lend a voice and leverage the resources I have to help impact other people’s lives in a positive way. I’d do the same for any of my teammates. I felt really compelled to stand up because these issues have been talked about for many, many years. Shame on me for not addressing them sooner.

You’ve said that within the U.S. locker room, all the players are treated equally, including the rookies. How does that play out?

There is a level of respect if someone’s been around for a long time, but anybody would do the same. For example, I have longer legs and if we’re on a longer flight, anybody would for sure give up their seat: “Knighter, you need this more than I do.” So I think it’s just this genuine care for one another, and that exceeds any responsibility related to “Is this your first time or your 20th time?” It doesn’t matter. At the same time, there is an unspoken rule to follow the steps of players who are older than you, just because they offer a different type of wisdom and a different perspective.

I think it’s huge what we were able to create in our culture. We don’t want our first-time players playing like first-time players. We expect them to play like they’ve been there three times. They came up big, and that’s the culture we developed.

The Lamoureux twins came up big against Canada with the tying and winning goals. But then you look at the fact that they often have to train by themselves and that the University of North Dakota cut the women’s program that produced them. What does that say about how far we still have to go?

It’s on the to-do list to have a better professional league. I don’t think one’s going to expand to North Dakota right now. But it shows sort of where women’s hockey is in people’s minds. After playing against those North Dakota women’s teams in the WCHA, I was shocked that their program was removed. And I hope it gets put back into place, because it was a phenomenal program and produced some amazing hockey players like the twins.

It’s tough because I know how great of a sport hockey is. I know how big it can be, what it can evolve into, and the way it can impact people’s lives. It’s about bridging the gap and continuing to have this dinnertime conversation about what women’s hockey looks like. Part of it is creating opportunities, marketing, and leveraging different brands we have currently to create a bigger platform so that things like that don’t happen and programs just don’t disappear overnight.

Cassie Campbell-Pascall, among others, has been outspoken about the need for a merger between the CWHL and the NWHL. Where do you stand?

It needs to happen. There can only be one league, I think, at this point, moving forward. Right now, the players have to choose between the leagues, which I don’t think is fair. You have to have the fans choose between the leagues. And then you’re also splitting resources. It doesn’t really make much sense for us if we’re trying to start a fully sustainable and paid professional league, or for the growth of the game. I echo the #OneLeague.

Earlier this month, the CWHL players association tweeted: “The future of professional women’s hockey is brighter than it has ever been. Now is the time to work together with the @NHL to secure #OneLeague where the best in the world can compete. @NHLPA.” Do you want the NHL involved?

I think you look at their resources, the structure they have and their expertise. It’s just not how the NHL works, but also the example of how the WNBA and the NBA collaborated many years ago. There’s a lot of upsides to having them involved. They are the top professional level. It would be great if we had something similar.

Most of the girls who watch you will never play elite hockey. But you’re in a country right now where only two percent of girls ages 12-17 get enough physical activity, and it’s similar in America. You’ve talked about how your mom gave you skates when you were five years old. How important is it for you to be a role model for girls to get active and play sports from a young age?

It might be the most important thing that I do. I understand the statistics, and it’s going to be one of my priorities to combat the statistics and get more girls being active, specifically in sports.

I’m biased. I really like team sports. Not only is it great socially, but you learn different life skills: working with other people, problem-solving, all these great things. I have first-hand experience of what sports did for me and how it positively impacted me. That’s definitely a passion I’d like to share with others to combat that statistic of teenage girls dropping out of sports.

Besides yourself, who has the best shot in the women’s game?

That is so tough, because there are a lot. I think Alex Carpenter’s got a rocket of a shot. Obviously the twins are good. I could go down the list. How do I pick? In terms of a slap shot, Megan Bozek, hands down. With a wrister, I’ve seen Carp put the puck in places I didn’t even know existed in the net.

Who’s the best stickhandler?

Hannah Brandt’s got a good set of mitts on her. Melodie Daoust is probably the filthiest I’ve ever seen, in the best way. That shootout goal of hers was just slippery smooth.

Who’s the strictest player you know in terms of diet and conditioning?

Probably Meghan Duggan. It was tough to get her to have McDonald’s even when we were all done! [laughs] It’s like, “You’re not competing anymore! You can definitely share a cheeseburger.”

Do you support your goalie Maddie Rooney in her quest to meet Justin Bieber?

Yeah, I think it’s great! Why not, right? It’s great that she called him out. Hopefully they meet. I don’t know what she would do, though. She might faint or something.

Have you ever seen a goalie smile during a shootout like that before?

Well, she’s a goalie! [laughs] I think it’s just special. Everyone knew we all had to contribute in some way. We had players leaning over the boards, pointing at her, yelling: “One more! One more effing save! Just make one more save.” And she’s smiling back.

It’s a great group. It’s bittersweet, because that was quite a group to be part of. Now that it’s over, it’s like, “Oh my gosh!”

A few years ago, HBO’s 24/7 series followed NHL teams around with cameras. If you had the opportunity to participate in a reality show that followed your national team leading up to the next big tournament, is that something you’d be up for?

Yeah, I think it would be great. I would welcome anyone to get that project greenlit as soon as possible. I think it would be a phenomenal series and I think it would only elevate our game even more.

This weekend in the CWHL semi-finals, you’re facing Megan Bozek with the Markham Thunder. Have you been in touch with her, Alex Carpenter, or Kelli Stack – some of the high-profile names who didn’t make the Olympic team – since you won the gold medal?

I spoke with Boze for sure. Kelli and Carp are over in China [with the CWHL’s Kunlun Red Star], so I don’t even know what time zone they’re in right now. Boze shot me a text, congratulating us on the gold medal and whatnot. It was tough not having her there.

But then also, she got the news that I was coming back. I didn’t tell her. I kind of said I was, but I wasn’t 100 per cent sure. So she dropped me a text: “Welcome back! Can’t wait to play you.” I’m like, “Don’t hit me with your slap shot, because that wouldn’t go well.”

Obviously it’s easier because I’m the one walking away with the gold medal, but this was probably the hardest time through without those guys. It was extremely difficult.

What do you think of the decision to expand to 10 teams at next year’s Women’s Worlds and the aim to do the same for the Olympics?

It’s great for women’s hockey. My hope is that more resources and funding are given to other countries that don’t have the same set-up as the U.S. or Canada. That’s the only way players are going to develop, if you invest in the future of women’s hockey. It’s a great start.

In your opinion, how important is it for the Finns, the Swiss, or other nations to be able to face the U.S. or Canada and have a good chance of winning?

That’s how hockey should be. It should always be a 50-50. That’s what everybody wants to see in terms of competition. Obviously we’d like to sway the odds in our favour and put in a different type of training so that we can beat anybody we might face. But I think it’s great for the sport when it’s tight games.

Do you feel like women’s hockey has to take advantage of this moment in history?

One hundred per cent. I’m hoping that just from the gold medal game, the registration numbers are going to grow. This is a galvanizing moment for our sport. I know the game impacted other industries as well that followed our storyline. We have stories to tell. Now we have an opportunity to bridge the gap between players and fans and non-hockey fans too, and we need to do that.

LUCAS AYKROYD]]>on topOlympicsWorldsWomenClub20 United Stateson leftThu, 15 Mar 2018 18:38:00 +0100Bogomir Jan dieshttp://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12458
Represented Yugoslavia in three OlympicsBorn in 1944 in Jesenice during World War II in Yugoslavia, Jan spent his career with his hometown team HK Jesenice while playing football in summer. He joined HK Jesenice’s senior team during the golden hockey era of the northern Slovenian steel city with 15 consecutive Yugoslav championships between 1957 and 1971.

He played most of his career as a forward but later converted to defence and became one of the best players in Jesenice. He eventually joined the Yugoslav national team and represented his country in 159 international games between 1961 and 1975 scoring 41 goals and 79 points.

Jan played for Yugoslavia at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympic Winter Games. The 9th-place finish in the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble as first-ranked team in the B-Pool was the best result for Yugoslavia in international ice hockey and was only topped after the split-up of Yugoslavia when Slovenia finished the 2014 Olympics in 7th place.

Jan also played in 10 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship B-Tool tournament. His debut in an IIHF-sanction event was when Yugoslavia played in the B-Pool during the 1963 Worlds in Stockholm. The youngest player of his team at 19, he was tied with two colleagues for the goal scoring lead of his team with five goals in six games.

His brothers Ivo and Milan Jan were his teammates both in Jesenice and on the Yugoslav national team. Ivo Jan, who represented Slovenia internationally until 2009, was his nephew and is the son of Ivo Jan Sr.

In 2007 Bogomir Jan was inducted into the Slovenian Hockey Hall of Fame.]]>on rightOlympicsWorldsMen17 SloveniaThu, 15 Mar 2018 10:11:00 +0100A winter fairy talehttp://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/men/news/a-winter-fairy-tale/
German goalie Danny aus den Birken looks backWhen the 2018 Olympic Winter Games kicked off, few hockey pundits around the globe could have envisioned what would take place at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Korea. For Germany, it was nothing short of history in the making.

Germany entered the tournament as one of the biggest underdogs, but it went about putting on a display of team spirit and timely scoring that took it all the way to the gold medal game, where the dream of the nation’s first ever gold medal ended when Olympic Athlete from Russia forward Kirill Kaprizov scored the tournament-winning goal on the power play in overtime to give the tournament’s favourite a 4-3 victory, and with that, the gold medal.

Nonetheless, winter sport fans around the world came to see a truly historical event, as Germany took the silver medal. It was Germany’s best finish ever in the history of Olympic ice hockey. For die-hard hockey fans, Germany’s ability to make it all the way to overtime against the highly favoured collection of top-flight Russian hockey players was akin to seeing a gold medal game of David vs. Goliath.

Germany’s path to this magical event began with a tight 2-1 shootout victory in the last game of the preliminary round against Norway and continued with a run that saw the underdog knock off archrival Switzerland, then Nordic ice hockey giant Sweden, and finally Canada, the sport’s motherland and defending champion. The run was unprecedented for a team that hadn’t even qualified for the previous winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and had last won a medal, namely bronze, in 1976.

Without a doubt, goaltender Danny aus den Birken was an essential, if not the most essential, part of Germany’s fairy tale march to the silver medal. Starting with Germany’s game against Norway, he managed to make every ensuing game a one-goal affair, ultimately having been only a good minute away from possibly having won gold.

Here’s our chat with Germany’s silver medal guarantee.

You’re the proud owner of a well-deserved silver medal from the 2018 Olympics in Korea, one that has gained a world of attention. As one of the key players in this historical success, how do you describe what you experienced on the ice in Korea?

Oh wow, how can I possibly describe that?

Looking back at things now, it was like being in a dream world. We had our share of ups and downs in preparing for the Olympics and then in the first few games, but I had a feeling the whole time that we had the right chemistry in the team and in the locker room. I could tell right away that we had a real chance to make something happen. The way we played kept improving from game to game and then everyone on the team was doing his job, especially when it came to defensive assignments. And when we got chances in the offensive zone, we were dangerous.

It was just incredible to be part of this ever-evolving belief in ourselves and the game plan, so I had strong feeling about where we were going in this tournament. And the result led to feelings that were, well, indescribable.

Heading into the tournament, it wasn’t really a given that you’d be the team’s starting goalie at any point. How did this come about and how were you able to muster up the calm demeanour that played such a key role in the team’s success?

This calmness in goal is something I always have. That would be the thing I’d say is my biggest strength. It always has been. I am a very calm and collected person in goal. I seldom get nervous, so that’s really something that’s always been of benefit.

As for how things turned out with being the team’s number-one goalie down the playoff stretch, I’d have to say our coach had his reasons. I certainly wouldn’t have been justified in being unhappy if Timo Pielmeier had played our third game against Norway. He had put in a really strong game against Sweden in our second match-up, where we lost 1-0. But the coach had to know what he was doing and why. And I hope – well, I believe – I was able to confirm his confidence in me when he made the decision to put me in goal.

As the importance of each game grew with every game, how did you prepare yourself both mentally and physically, especially considering how little time you had between each ensuing game?

Every ice hockey player who participates in an Olympics or World Championship realizes that the games are going to be taking place every to every other day. It’s a real grind and can be extremely difficult.

I think it had to do with the team though. We had such a good vibe going. We were like the best of friends going to war with one another and this really pushed all of us individually and gave us the energy we needed to bite through whenever we started show signs of wear and tear from the gruelling schedule. Once we tasted blood against Sweden in the 1-0 loss, that’s when the energy kicked in and kept pushing us along. The adrenaline was there the whole time.

With the aforementioned 1-0 loss to Sweden, every single game was decided by a one goal margin, the majority first in overtime. How in the world does a goalie go about managing that kind of pressure from game to game?

That’s hard to sum up. I’d say that dealing with pressure truly needs to be a strength for any goaltender looking to achieve prolonged successful, or really any success. As mentioned, that’s one of my strengths and it’s something I worked on and developed over a long period of time. I improved on that a lot during my time in Munich, having played for the championship in recent years.

There’s always a certain amount of pressure placed on a goaltender. It simply lies in the nature of the position. If you want to be on top, you have to learn how to deal with it and be strong whenever you face it.

When did the German national team start to realize what it was going to be capable of at this tournament?

In the first game against Finland, we simply played too passively and were a bit nervous. We didn’t play the way we knew we could. We then had that good game against Sweden, realizing that we could have actually won it. Then against Norway, we got this feeling like ”Hey, Norway isn’t bad, but we’re truly better. We’re taking this thing.“

Switzerland was up next and we talked about how we had beat them in an exhibition game and knew we could if we just wanted it enough. We kept getting this feeling from game to game that we can win this thing. We had real character and just had so much belief in ourselves and what we could do when we put our minds to it and follow the game plan.

It was a snowball effect. We took on Sweden again and knew we could have beaten them in the first game. We were going to make it happen. We just kept growing and believing in ourselves more and more. Mentally, we adapted a no-lose attitude and rode with it as far as possible, concentrating on those strong team-first principles.

Everyone watching the games could clearly see that Germany was practically willing its way to victory thanks to what looked like amazing team spirit. Do you think the team simply had more chemistry than others, because so many of you have been playing together already in previous tournaments? How do you explain it?

We certainly were able to enter the tournament with a bunch of guys who know each other and have played together at various junctures in the national team or also in club teams. I thought about this before the Olympics and I felt it could be a major factor in allowing us to compete. We got along well, heck, we were like a family. There’s a real long-term core to this national team that is currently intact.

When we played against Finland and even Sweden, we could see that this very factor might have been a disadvantage for them. Or at least a strength for us. No matter how many good players a number of the nations had, and a lot of these guys are playing pro hockey in the KHL, SHL, Liiga, etc., many were put together specifically for this tournament and they needed time to figure things out together. It felt like they weren’t always on the same page. Yes, I’d say that this was an advantage for us that we were able to make use of.

But along with the feelings I mentioned above, the chemistry we were able to throw out on the ice was a key to our success.

Germany’s coach Marco Sturm left the Olympics looking like a “German Herb Brooks“, of sorts. What role did his style of coaching play for Germany’s success?

Definitely a huge role. It began with his process of nominating players to this team and building together a core of players over the course of several years. In his nature, he’s a very calm type of coach. He talks to you or the team when sees something that needs addressing. But he doesn’t flip out. He only gets loud when it’s absolutely necessary. He’s got that instinct for when and where exactly he needs to do something or make a timely decision. He was naturally a huge, huge factor for us.

Had anyone told you before the Olympics that Germany would end the tournament with a 4-3 loss to the Olympic Athletes from Russia in overtime, you surely would have taken that result and headed straight to the bank. Nonetheless, Germany was just minutes away from winning the gold medal before the OAR tied up the game 3-3 with roughly a minute to go - while shorthanded no less. They then went on to win on the power play in overtime. How have you gone about processing and dealing with this incredible twist of fate?

Clearly, had anyone said ahead of time that you’d be taking the Russians to overtime in the gold medal game, you’d have thought they were nuts. I certainly wouldn’t have believed that person. And no doubt, losing that game in that fashion was as tough an experience as any I’ve ever had.

But looking back at the event now, it was an absolutely wonderful story we wrote and a wonderful result for all of German ice hockey. We’re seeing the hype it created back home and how it’s not slowing down. We hope that ice hockey will continue getting bigger in Germany. We’re hoping that more children will want to try playing ice hockey. We’re hoping that inspiring new players to discover the sport will be the effect of this crazy story. I mean heck, this was a really crazy, incredible story and we’re able to truly understand that now in the aftermath by seeing the hype and media presence, at a nationwide level, that has resulted.

We’re talked to on the street by strangers who want to give there congrats or tell us of the emotions they felt while watching us… It’s an incredible feeling of pride knowing what we ultimately achieved. It’ll likely accompany us our entire lives.

Your silver medal was the most prestigious medal Germany’s men’s team has ever won at the Olympics. How were your celebrations after the game back at the “Deutschland Haus”?

The party was crazy. It was a ton of fun. We weren’t allowed to tear down the house, but we left it in need of renovation, so to speak.

It was also special, because we celebrated with the other Germany Olympians, many of whom had watched us play and rooted us on. It was a great time, but it only made the trip home the next day that much more difficult.

What was it like to take part in the Olympics’ opening ceremonies?

That was fantastic. I’d even go so far as to say that that was where the feeling of pride we showed on the ice began. It was great being with the other athletes. Walking in the opening ceremony was a tremendous experience and for any athlete, the Olympic Games are simply one of the biggest things anyone can experience anywhere.

What did you get to experience from Korea itself? Did you try kimchi or another Korean specialty? What did the team get to see?

I sure wish I could have seen a lot more of the country and surrounding area. We were able to see a bit of Gangneung, but the nature of the tournament was such that we were playing every to every other day and our complete focus was on the task at hand. I didn’t get to try kimchi or any of the other traditional foods there. I didn’t get too experimental. That’s probably the one thing I really regret, because we just didn’t get to see much of the country or get to soak in that aspect of the journey half way around the world.

What I do want to say is that the people who worked there were incredibly friendly and so outgoing. They were so cordial and helped us out with any and everything. They were always kind and it really jumped out at us how wonderful of an experience it was to work with them.

What have you done with your silver medal? Keeping it somewhere special?

Oh, I’ve created a little Olympics shrine and I have the medal right there. The shrine holds everything that had to do with the Olympics. My award for being named the tournament’s top goaltender is there. Stuff I got from Team Germany or the passes we wore, as well as a commemorative puck I picked up; it’s all there as part of my shrine and that’s where it’s all staying put!

Will this silver medal have a lasting effect on the status of ice hockey in Germany?

I definitely hope so. That will now depend on the Germany Ice Hockey Federation and the DEL and how they go about using this opportunity to market the sport. This was definitely the right step in enabling a positive effect.

However, we noticed it right away in the first DEL games back home. The hype was immense and at least in Munich, the house was packed. I think some other teams experienced the same thing. I hope it continues. And I believe it can. If we continue to retain the media’s presence, we can enhance the sport’s popularity in Germany considerably.

You’ve been fortunate enough to work with some real class-act coaches. Your current coach with Munich is Don Jackson, who has put together quite a coaching resume in Europe, including your two straight DEL titles. How do you explain his success?

Don Jackson is the ne plus ultra of coaches. For me, he’s the best coach I’ve ever had and I’ve heard a lot of other players say the same thing. In my opinion, he’s clearly the best coach in the league. And now that I’ve seen what kind of success he can generate, it doesn’t surprise me in the least what he did in Berlin and Salzburg before his time with us. The man is just an incredible coach. The way he prepares for every game, the way he handles each and every player. His thoughts on improving and making every possible game as perfect as possible, the system he prepares us for, and his ability to deal with the little things are all outstanding.

As a person, you simply have to like and respect him. He cares about the team and about the individuals. He actively shows his interest in you as a player and in your private well-being. He wants the best for everyone he’s working with. I can’t imagine there’s anyone out there like Don Jackson.

You were part of both DEL titles. You were more of a back-up in the first championship, but you were the undisputed number one goalie in last season’s title. Your team has now finished the season at the top of the DEL standings. What has made the Red Bulls so dominant in the DEL?

We have some very talented players, but the decisive factor is the guy we just talked about, Don Jackson. He always has the team perfectly ready for the tasks at hand and has implemented a system that allows us to flourish. I also have to mention that, much like with the national team, we’ve got a great locker room in Munich and everyone gets along with everyone. It’s a very solid group and we all believe in each other. We are a whole lot more than just work colleagues.

You’ve now come back from this incredibly fabulous and exhausting experience in Korea and are heading straight into the playoffs, the most pressure-filled time of the year, especially for a team that will be shooting for its third straight title. How are you going to deal with this very unique situation?

Well we knew before the Olympics that it was going to be this way, going from such a wonderful experience to the playoffs back home. This let us prepare accordingly. As a team, we Red Bulls have gotten to have a little bit of a break while the teams ranked 7-10 in the league are duking it out in the pre-playoffs. We’re not even sure who we’ll be facing in the first round.

But now we’ve been able to rest up a bit and can’t wait to kick off the playoffs. We’re burning to win another championship. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing in the first or any other round, because as everyone knows, to become the champion you have to be ready to beat everyone. We’re excited to get things going.

In a few months’ time, the next major international ice hockey event will take place in the neighbouring country Denmark. After the huge success of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Cologne and Paris and then the silver medal at the Olympics, what are the expectations for Germany this May in Denmark?

The situation at the World Championship differs a good bit from the Olympics and we have to go into things realistically. We know this. We can’t enter the tournament thinking we’re a medal favourite just because of what took place at the Olympics. The format is different and there are more games in the preliminary round. The teams will almost all be enhanced with NHL players, Germany hopefully as well.

Our goal will be to simply concentrate on making the World Championship playoffs. We first need to become one of the top-4 teams in our group. Then we’ll have to see how well we’re doing and what kind of a situation we’re in. This is the most realistic approach we can take. We know what we’re capable of, but we’re not going to stop being realistic just because of what we experienced in South Korea.

Let’s look into the near future after the world’s in May. You’ll be a free agent this summer. Have you thought about where you’d like to play next season? Might you have any ambitions to play in a league other than the DEL, or perhaps on another continent?

To be honest, this isn’t something I want to deal with or worry about at the moment. My focus is on the playoffs right here, right now. I’ll see where I’m at and what the opportunities are this summer, but at the moment the only thing of importance in my ice hockey life are the Red Bulls Munich and the upcoming playoffs.

Lastly, have you gotten the impression that you’ve become a much more recognized commodity as a player after what took place in Korea?

Well, in light of what we did at the Olympics, I guess you can’t really avoid that. The hockey world was watching and many of the people watching are planning for next season. I believe that many were surprised by what took place in South Korea and what Team Germany ended up achieving, so I guess that alone has made me and others more recognized.

I don’t know if that has changed anything or will have an effect on things this summer. We’ll see what happens when the time comes.

CHAPIN LANDVOGT]]>on topOlympics08 Germanyon leftWed, 14 Mar 2018 15:09:00 +0100Taipei’s girls win goldhttp://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12453
U18 team wins Women’s Challenge Cup of AsiaThe tournament also included the senior teams from Singapore and Thailand while four more teams played in the Division I competition. Both tournaments were held at the new Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

The team from Chinese Taipei started with a 5-3 win over last year’s silver medallist Thailand before playing the New Zealanders in a game that eventually determined the gold medallist. A hat trick from Thai captain Nuchanat Ponglerkdee wasn’t enough against the strong Taiwanese offence.

Also against New Zealand the Chinese Taipei U18 team tried to dictate the game from the beginning. Two late goals in the first period paved the win against the junior Kiwis. With a penalty against New Zealand just expired, Yun-Chu Huang gave Chinese Taipei the lead with 92 seconds left and with three seconds left before the first intermission Ting-Yu Hsu made it 2-0. Two third-period goals from Hsuan Wang – the 14-year-old was the youngest player of the tournament her after one month younger linemate Ya-Ching Jan – sealed the 4-1 victory and gold.

On the last day Chinese Taipei beat Singapore 12-1 to finish the tournament with a clean record. The New Zealand U18 women’s team beat Thailand 1-0 with Beth Scott scoring the only goal and Lilly Forbes earning a shutout with 25 saves to earn silver. The Thai had their only win against Singapore, 10-1.

Wang was named Best Forward of the tournament while the other awards went to Thailand. Wasunun Angkulpattanasuk, who had the best save percentage of all starting goalies with 94.12%, was named best goaltender while Sirikarn Jittresin was the best defender. Nuchanat Ponglerkdee, who led the tournament in points (8) and goals (6), was named Most Valuable Player. She scored six of her team’s goals and was on the ice for all 13 goals.

For six of the Chinese Taipei juniors the international season will continue soon as Chinese Taipei is the promoted team in the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division II Group B that will be played in Valdemoro close to the Spanish capital of Madrid.

Click here for scores and stats.

MARTIN MERK]]>on topWorldsWomenChinese TaipeiNew ZealandSingaporeThailandon lefton rightMon, 12 Mar 2018 15:03:00 +0100Malaysia makes ithttp://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12451
Women’s team wins CCOA eventAfter growing pain in its first two years the Malaysian women’s national team has improved to win its first tournament in its third year of existence. Having its first full-size ice arena since this season to practise and play the sport paid off for the women’s team from the Southeast Asian country.

Two years ago in Taipei City the team started with a 1-3 record and getting its only win against India, 6-3. Last year in Bangkok, the Malaysians were even last with a 1-5 record and getting the only win from a 5-4 opening-day win in overtime against the United Arab Emirates.

This year on home ice the Malaysians went all the way to first place on home ice at the Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium. At this brand-new facility, the Malaysia Ice Hockey Federation currently hosts both divisions of the Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia and the Division I tournament ended on Friday to the liking of the home crowd.

The Malaysians started with a 3-1 victory in a neighbouring clash with the Philippines. The Philippines managed to tie a Malaysian lead from a late Nurul Aliya Versluis first-period goal when Bianca Yasmine Cuevas scored the equalizer at 5:33 of the middle frame. But seven minutes later Fatin Muhd Fadzli Amin scored on the power play and made it 3-1 with her second goal in the third period.

Five different scorers led Malaysia to a 5-0 blanking of India in the second game to set up a final against the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati started in similar fashion. Dana Al Hosani’s hat trick and a pair of goals from Fatima Al Mazrouei led the UAE to a 6-1 win over India and despite strong pressure from the Philippines, the Emirati won their second game 5-4 with Khulood Shugaa scoring the game-winner with her second marker 2:14 before the end of regulation time.

460 fans came to the Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium located at the Empire City mall in the Kuala Lumpur region to witness the final where Shugaa continued her scoring streak with the 1-0 marker after 78 seconds of play but five minutes later Versluis tied it up for the hosts.

At 4:15 of the middle frame Al Mazrouei increased her scoring account by regaining the lead for the United Arab Emirates that stayed until the Malaysia scored two quick goals midway the period. Captain Nur Iman Sofiah Nur Aziz tied the game at two at 12:44. After the next face-off Al Mazrouei was sent to the penalty box for an illegal bodycheck and 15 seconds later Nur Illina Mohd Rothi scored on the power play to give Malaysia its first lead in the game.

The teams exchanged more goals in the third period but Malaysia kept its lead until the end and won 5-3 for its historic tournament win as the bottom-seeded team.

The Philippines ended the tournament in third place. The Indian women, who came from the Ladakh region at the foot of the Himalayas, had a promising start with goals from Kunzes Angmo and Rinchen Dolma but then came the second period with four unanswered goals from Bianca Yasmine Cuevas. After two more third-period goals the 6-2 win and third place were final for the Philippines and Cuevas was voted MVP with her eight goals in three games.

Click here for scores and stats from the tournament.

With the Division I competition in Kuala Lumpur over, the top division of the Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia continues in the Malaysian capital and includes the women’s senior teams from Singapore and Thailand as well as the U18 women’s teams from Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

Click here for scores and stats from the tournament.

MARTIN MERK]]>on rightWorldsWomenMalaysiaUnited Arab EmiratesPhilippinesIndia on leftFri, 09 Mar 2018 16:35:00 +0100“Something I’ll never forget”http://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/men/news/ebbett/
Ebbett between Olympic bronze and playoff actionOne year ago, 35-year-old Ebbett was in his adopted home in Switzerland where he plays for one of the top clubs of the country, SC Bern. The Olympics and Korea were far away for him.

Now Ebbett is still in the Swiss capital preparing for the playoffs but meanwhile with an Olympic bronze medal decorating his home.

“It was huge. It would have been nice to have the gold but bring home the Olympic medal – a year ago I’d even not have thought that’s possible,” said Ebbett. “It’s up there with the two Swiss championships and my first NHL game. I’m not sure in what order yet. It’s gonna take some couple of months to sit back and look at it. It’s something I’ll never forget for sure.”

Yes, gold is the colour Canada always expects. Like in Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 when the NHL allowed its players to participate at the Olympics, the biggest sporting event for an athlete. The NHL’s decision to leave the Olympic spotlight hurt Team Canada, which won back-to-back gold with its NHL players (but was left without medal in 1998 and 2006 despite its NHL stars). But the decision gave room for other players to shine. Ebbett was one of them.

A journeyman with 12 NHL and AHL teams during nine years that included 224 NHL games, the forward decided for more stability in Europe and found it with SC Bern where he’s in his third year and is under contract for another season.

The Canadian men’s national team players were selected from six different leagues. Apart from three AHL players, all of them were pros in Europe. Five were under contract in Switzerland and Ebbett was joined in Korea by SC Bern teammates Mason Raymond and Maxim Noreau, who made it to the All-Star Team.

“It was cool. Just to be there with the Canadians. I didn’t have a Canadian jersey until last season at the Spengler Cup. To wear the Olympic jersey and have my family, my sister, my nephew come to South Korea, to see my parents jumping up and down the stands after we won the bronze medal was a really cool feeling for me,” Ebbett said.

It’s been an unusual season for the Canadian men’s national team so far. The pressure of having to excel with a team with no NHL players added some bustle to the team management and the potential Olympians already in summer. The Canadian men’s national team played two tournaments in Russia in August, one in November in Finland and two in December in Russia and Switzerland. The team was busier than any other country in making its team Olympic-ready.

That was part of the selection process but also for the players to get to know each other and the systems since they haven’t been together that much like European players, who in most cases have been part of the national team program for years.

“It was tough. I don’t think a lot of people realized that a lot of other national teams played together every year three, four times a year. We had a few tournaments, I think Team Canada did a good job having those tournaments. We knew each other for the most part but we came together really quick with a strong team of Canadian players. Everybody had a role,” Ebbett said.

The Vernon, British Columbia native contributed two goals and three points in five games on route to the bronze medal and the Olympics provided him an unforgettable experience. The team was 2-1 in Group A after wins against Switzerland and Korea and a loss to the Czechs. They edged Finland 1-0 in the quarter-finals before falling to the surprising German team 4-3 in the semi-finals. In the bronze medal game they took revenge against the Czechs and won 6-4 with Ebbett blazing the trail with the 1-0 and 4-1 goals for Canada.

Asked about his off-ice experiences in Korea, he said: “Everything was so busy in the village. To go up the mountains, see snowboarding. To see short-track speed skating and what a big sport it is in Korea and see how much they admire South Korean speed skaters was really cool to see.”

In the meantime, Ebbett has returned to his usual life in Switzerland. SC Bern became regular season winner again and Ebbett is the team’s scoring leader with 48 points (14+34) – one more than Mark Arcobello, who was in PyeongChang 2018 for Team USA.

Since coming to Switzerland, he has been on a lucky streak. He won two Swiss championships in the past two seasons and two out of two Spengler Cups he participated with Team Canada. Now SC Bern hopes for a title hat trick – the first for a Swiss club since the ‘90s.

“It’s been a fun couple of years since I’ve been here. The consistency for me has been good. The pressure is always on in Berne. The playoffs is the best time of the year, the sun comes out, it’s warm, the fans come out for the playoffs,” Ebbett said, knowing that it won’t be an easy time though.

“It’s going to be a tough match-up with Geneva. We played them six times already this year and all were one-goal games. They’re a good, solid team. They’re big and physical. We gonna have to be ready. We definitely won’t take anything for granted,” Ebbett said and mentions the team’s improvement recently since they got Stephane Da Costa. The Frenchman was one of the best scorers at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship with 10 points (6+4) from six games on home ice in Paris.

“We’ve been in that position two years ago when we were the eighth seed and we were playing number-one Zurich. We know what to expect. We know that in the playoffs anything can happen,” Ebbett said. “We’re really focused just on Game 1 and taking it one game at a time. It’s cliche but that’s how it works.”